As mentioned earlier in this article, a poorly performing SQL Server can hinder high availability. Because of this, you must regularly monitor your SQL Server’s performance, ensuring that it is performing at its optimum capacity. If you identify hardware bottlenecks due to increasing load, then you need to plan to beef up the hardware as soon as you can.

Smart Job Management

Importance: CriticalDifficulty: Easy

Used to:

Increase performance-related HA

Increase data HA

Includes:

Run DBCC command to check data integrity

Rebuild indexes and update statistics regularly

Run SQL Server jobs at times that don’t interrupt user’s access to data

Check available disk space regularly

Etc.

SQL Server jobs are not only necessary for checking the integrity of your data, but they must also be scheduled in such a way as to reduce the impact on users. Not running necessary jobs, or running any job at the wrong time hurts high availability.

Check All Logs Daily

Importance: CriticalDifficulty: Easy

Used to:

Increase hardware HA

Increase OS HA

Increase SQL Server HA

Increase human error HA (security-related)

Includes:

OS Logs

SQL Server Logs

While most logs have a lot of unnecessary information, they often include useful nuggets of information that can help you prevent future problems. Because of this, you need to take a regular look at them. You can do this manually, or you can use a third-party tool to monitor the logs for you, only alerting you to critical problems.

Check Disk Space Daily

Importance: CriticalDifficulty: Easy

Used to:

Increase hardware HA

When SQL Server runs out of disk space, it can fail. Because of this, you need to daily check on how much empty space you have. As a rule of thumb, you want to have at least 20% free space. If you don’t, performance will be hurt and you further risk running out of space due to unexpected factors, such as a suddenly growing tempdb or log file. You can check this manually, or use third-party software.